Biography

I am a Doctoral Student in Politics at the University of Virginia and a Graduate Fellow with the Karsh Institute’s Nau Democracy Lab. My research focuses on Latin America, examining state violence, policing, armed groups, illegal markets, and the politics of democracy and authoritarianism in the region. I also study the role of great powers, including China, Russia, the United States, Iran, and Israel, in shaping governance and security in the region.

My work has been supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada at both the master’s and doctoral levels, as well as the Department of National Defence’s MINDS program. I hold an M.A. in International Affairs from Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School, where my thesis analyzed the incentive structures driving police lethality in Bahia, Brazil. I also hold a B.A. in International Relations and Latin American Studies from the University of British Columbia.

In addition to my native French and English, I speak Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese fluently. I also have proficiency in Russian and Haitian Creole. I am originally from Québec, Canada.

My previous professional roles include consulting for governments in the Americas, serving as a Senior Analyst & Consultant for Latin America at London Politica, National Security Policy Analyst for the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness of Canada, and Researcher with Florida International University’s Analytic Outreach Program in partnership with the U.S. Southern Command.

In addition to my academic work, I have published widely as a contributor to outlets such as The Diplomat, Le Devoir, Responsible Statecraft, and The Intercept Brasil. I was a field reporter in Latin America for three years, spending most of my time in Colombia, Brazil, and Bolivia. I previously served as a Visiting Research Fellow with the Federal University of Bahia and as a Fellow at Texas A&M University’s Program on Conflict and Development.